Balin and Dwalin were two of the most unhappy Dwarves when unpacked from their barrels before [[Lake-town]] and were not asked to help release the others.<ref name="Barrels"/> After leaving the town and as their ponies trudged towards the Mountain, Balin and Bilbo rode together in the rear, leading ponies laden with supplies.<ref name="Door">{{H|Doorstep}}</ref>

Balin and Dwalin were two of the most unhappy Dwarves when unpacked from their barrels before [[Lake-town]] and were not asked to help release the others.<ref name="Barrels"/> After leaving the town and as their ponies trudged towards the Mountain, Balin and Bilbo rode together in the rear, leading ponies laden with supplies.<ref name="Door">{{H|Doorstep}}</ref>

That Balin had become the fondest of Bilbo of all the Dwarves was demonstrated when the hobbit made his first descent into the Lonely Mountain. None of the other Dwarves volunteered to accompany Bilbo except for Balin, who did go partway down the passageway. Balin waited there and when Bilbo returned he delightedly carried the tired hobbit back to the door.<ref>{{H|Inside}}</ref> Later, when Bilbo dropped his torch in [[Smaug]]'s lair, Balin pointed out that it was the Dwarves turn to help and declared that he was quite willing to go.<ref name="Home">{{H|Home}}</ref>

That Balin had become the fondest of Bilbo of all the Dwarves was demonstrated when the hobbit made his first descent into the Lonely Mountain. None of the other Dwarves volunteered to accompany Bilbo except for Balin, who did go partway down the passageway. Balin waited there and when Bilbo returned he delightedly carried the tired hobbit back to the door.<ref>{{H|Inside}}</ref> Later, when Bilbo dropped his torch in [[Smaug]]'s lair, Balin pointed out that it was the Dwarves turn to help and declared that he was quite willing to go.<ref name="Home">{{H|Home}}</ref>

Line 67:

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For five years the colony thrived. They managed to find many old treasures, mithril, and armories. But on [[10 November]] {{TA|2994}}, as Balin went to look in [[Mirrormere]], an orc archer fatally shot him. Balin's body was placed in [[Balin's Tomb|a tomb]] in the Chamber of Mazarbul.<ref name="Bridge"/>

For five years the colony thrived. They managed to find many old treasures, mithril, and armories. But on [[10 November]] {{TA|2994}}, as Balin went to look in [[Mirrormere]], an orc archer fatally shot him. Balin's body was placed in [[Balin's Tomb|a tomb]] in the Chamber of Mazarbul.<ref name="Bridge"/>

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But the archer was just the van of the orcs who came up the [[Silverlode]]. The Dwarves were locked in. After a fierce battle in the halls the colony was completely wiped out.<ref name="Bridge"/> Not knowing what really happened, [[Glóin]] and his son [[Gimli]] were sent to [[Rivendell]] to seek news about the colony.

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But the archer was just the van of the orcs who came up the [[Silverlode]]. The Dwarves were trapped. After a [[Battle of the Second Hall|fierce battle in the halls]] and a [[Last Stand of Balin's Colony|final stand in the Chamber of Mazarbul]] the colony was completely wiped out.<ref name="Bridge"/> Not knowing what really happened, [[Glóin]] and his son [[Gimli]] were sent to [[Rivendell]] to seek news about the colony.

Gimli eventually learned of their fate when he crossed the dwarven realm with the [[Company of the Ring]] and found [[Balin's Tomb]].<ref name="Bridge"/>

Gimli eventually learned of their fate when he crossed the dwarven realm with the [[Company of the Ring]] and found [[Balin's Tomb]].<ref name="Bridge"/>

:Balin will be played by [[Ken Stott]].<ref name="PJCasting">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150168211921558|articlename=Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit|dated=20-March-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref> A description of Balin in ''The Hobbit'' films was released by the studio:

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:Balin is played by [[Ken Stott]].<ref name="PJCasting">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150168211921558|articlename=Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit|dated=20-March-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref> A description of Balin in ''The Hobbit'' films was released by the studio:

:{{Blockquote|A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of the Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisors – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.|[[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="HobbitApp">{{webcite|author=[[Warner Bros.]]|articleurl=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hobbit-movies/id545808528|articlename=Hobbit Movies|dated=7-September-2012|website=[http://itunes.apple.com/ Apple iPhone/iPad App]|accessed=19-September-2012}}</ref>}}

:{{Blockquote|A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of the Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisors – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.|[[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="HobbitApp">{{webcite|author=[[Warner Bros.]]|articleurl=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hobbit-movies/id545808528|articlename=Hobbit Movies|dated=7-September-2012|website=[http://itunes.apple.com/ Apple iPhone/iPad App]|accessed=19-September-2012}}</ref>}}

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:: It should be noted that in the original book, Balin was younger than Thorin by more than ten years.

Thráin longed to return to Erebor, and with Balin and Dwalin and a few others in T.A.2851 he went on an expedition to their ancient hall.[3] Sauron had them in his sights, eager to take the Ring of Thrór from the exiled king. Wolves, orcs and evil birds harassed the small company as they came east. One night, as they had crossed the Anduin, an evil rain forced them into the eaves of Mirkwood, and the company was split. Thráin was never seen again, and Balin and Dwalin returned to the Blue Mountains to report the news to Thorin, the new king of Durin's line.[2]

Quest of Erebor

In 2941,[3] during Gandalf's efforts to persuade Thorin to take Bilbo to Erebor (before the party at Bag End), Balin played an important if unintentional role. When Gandalf said that "professional stealth" was needed Balin misunderstood him as recommending a trained treasure-hunter. As Gandalf defended hobbits in general and the particular hobbit he had in mind, stating that his hobbit had some gold, silver, and crystal, Balin again jumped to the conclusion that Bilbo was an outright thief. In his anger at this remark Galdalf proclaimed that Bilbo had to come or else the enterprise would be a failure, and Thorin then agreed to meet the hobbit. Thus Balin accidentally insured that Bilbo would be part of the quest.[4]

On the day of the unexpected party Balin was the second Dwarf to appear at Bag End; his comment, "they have begun to arrive" flustered the hobbit considerably. Later, when the Dwarves made music, Balin and his brother Dwalin brought in and play viols.[5]

On the day after the party Balin stood at the door of the Green Dragon Inn, awaiting Bilbo's arrival.[6] This was the first of many instances where Balin served as the chief look-out for Thorin's company. In fact, it was when Bilbo (wearing the One Ring and thus invisible) sneaked past Balin on look-out duty after their adventures with the Goblins in the mountains that Balin began to develop great respect for the hobbit.[7]

Balin and his brother Dwalin tended to act together as a pair. In the clearing of the Wargs Balin and Dwalin were the two who swarmed up a tall slender fir.[7] When the Dwarves arrived at Beorn's hall, the two brothers were the third pair to appear.[8] Thorin did split the two when the crossed the Enchanted River – Balin went in the first boatload with Thorin, Bilbo, and Fíli while Dwalin came last with Bombur.[9]

Balin's growing fondness for Bilbo became apparent after the hobbit had rescued the Dwarves from the spiders in Mirkwood. Having seen Bilbo vanish they, especially Balin, wanted the true story of Gollum and the Ring explained. Finally satisfied as to how Bilbo had sneaked past him after the mountains, Balin called the hobbit "Good old Bilbo".[9]

When the Dwarves were hauled before the Elvenking they did not know that Thorin had been taken before them and put into a cell deep in the king's dungeon. Balin, being the second oldest of the party, became the spokes-dwarf. His angry, surly answers to Thranduil led to their confinement too.[10]

Balin and Dwalin were two of the most unhappy Dwarves when unpacked from their barrels before Lake-town and were not asked to help release the others.[10] After leaving the town and as their ponies trudged towards the Mountain, Balin and Bilbo rode together in the rear, leading ponies laden with supplies.[11]

That Balin had become the fondest of Bilbo of all the Dwarves was demonstrated when the hobbit made his first descent into the Lonely Mountain. None of the other Dwarves volunteered to accompany Bilbo except for Balin, who did go partway down the passageway. Balin waited there and when Bilbo returned he delightedly carried the tired hobbit back to the door.[12] Later, when Bilbo dropped his torch in Smaug's lair, Balin pointed out that it was the Dwarves turn to help and declared that he was quite willing to go.[13]

In the autumn of 2949, Balin accompanied Gandalf to visit Bilbo in the Shire.[3] Bilbo noted that Balin's beard was many inches longer and that he wore a magnificent jeweled belt. The three friends talked for hours and Bilbo learned of the new prosperity of the Kingdom Under the Mountain and the restored town of Dale.[15]

Expedition to Moria and his death

Balin, Lord of Moria by Joona Kujanen.

Though the riches of Erebor made the Dwarves prosperous again, there were many who longed to return to Moria. Dain Ironfoot counseled against it, but Balin mounted an expedition in T.A.2989.

[16] They hoped to regain the treasures, and Balin had also hoped to find the Ring of Thrór, which was assumed to be lost when Thrór entered the Gates years before.[17]

For five years the colony thrived. They managed to find many old treasures, mithril, and armories. But on 10 NovemberT.A.2994, as Balin went to look in Mirrormere, an orc archer fatally shot him. Balin's body was placed in a tomb in the Chamber of Mazarbul.[18]

Other versions of the legendarium

There are a number of differences regarding Balin as presented in early texts as opposed to the published version of The Hobbit. Below is a list of noticeable differences:

Earlier, Balin's beard was yellow instead of white, and his hood was described first as scarlet and then as yellow before red became the final choice.[21]

Originally it was Dwalin who spotted the Trolls' fire on the hillside; later this was changed to Balin.[22]

When Balin and others scouted the Front Gate at Erebor, in the pre-publication version referred to ravens nearby as "spies of evil".[23] In the published story the suspicious birds were changed to crows.[11]

Films

Balin's voice is provided by Don Messick. It is unknown if he survived the Battle of Five Armies, as only six of the original survive (with Thorin and Bombur among the casualties and Óin and Glóin amongst the survivors).[26]

Balin is played by Ken Stott.[29] A description of Balin in The Hobbit films was released by the studio:

A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of the Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisors – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.—Warner Bros.[30]

It should be noted that in the original book, Balin was younger than Thorin by more than ten years.

Balin's Tomb is one of the objectives of the first act in the Good Campaign. Several groups of orcs, as well as three trolls, have to be fought off before a break in the wall allows access to the next hall and the Bridge.[34]

Miscellaneous

Balin is portrayed white-haired and quite old; he looks distinctly older than his brother Dwalin, whose hair is still a very dark grey. His role is unchanged from the book; he is the lookout, and visits Bilbo in the epilogue.

See also

Notes

↑ In a note considered for inclusion in Appendix A published in The Peoples of Middle-earth, Tolkien stated that Dwarves reached fighting age around thirty. Balin was 30 at the start and 36 at the end of the war, so conceivably he did participate as a warrior.